Some brands are rushing to make a squeeze bottle for olive oil like Graza, but others don't want plastic touching their "liquid gold."

Analysis

TikTok is pushing brands to post photos instead of videos

April 09, 2024  ■  5 min read

TikTok is forging ahead on becoming a full-fledged photo platform -- and brands are coming along for the ride. Consumer-facing companies tell Modern Retail how they're using the Carousel feature and whether they'd consider moving to TikTok's rumored new photo app.

DTC Briefing: Why some marketers worry that Meta is ‘broken’

April 02, 2024  ■  6 min read

Is Meta broken? That's what marketers keep saying on sites like X (formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn.

Other news to know

  • Retail sales in the U.S. rose for the second straight month, rising 0.7% from February to March, according to government data.
  • The European Union and Japan have given regulatory clearance to a merger between Tapestry and Capri, the owner of Versace. The deal is valued at $8.5 billion.
  • Chili sauce company Fly by Jing is lowering its prices on its site and at its retail partners as it expands into 2,000 Walmarts across the U.S.
2.7%
Jump in U.S. online sales in March
Top Stories Apr 16

Bombas ventures outside socks and expands into slides

April 16, 2024  ■  4 min read

Bombas is venturing outside its core sock business with indoor/outdoor slide sandals. Bombas co-founder Randy Goldberg spoke with Modern Retail about how the brand thinks about product development.

Inside Gopuff’s new B-to-B strategy

April 16, 2024  ■  3 min read

At this week’s Modern Retail Commerce Summit, Gopuff’s svp of Business Daniel Folkman spoke about the company’s new Powered by Gopuff platform and its growth plans for the rest of the year.

Modern Retail Index: How retailers are updating their digital strategies

April 16, 2024  ■  14 min read

The last installment of the Modern Retail Index ranks retailers based on financial momentum, ease of fulfillment and e-commerce. The Index examines retailers within five cohorts — big box, dollar and off-price stores, drugstores, home goods, specialty retail — to understand which cohorts, and which retailers within those cohorts, are excelling.

Figs launches program that will give shoppers $50 off in exchange for old scrubs

April 15, 2024  ■  4 min read

A new program from Figs, called “Scrubs That Don’t Suck,” accepts a full scrub set in any condition from any brand, as long as they are clean, throughout April.

Limited Series
The Future of Brand Marketing

The lines between brand and performance marketing are blurring. It's no longer enough to spend millions on a TV campaign and hope people find your brand. In this series, Modern Retail looks into how the wild, expensive world of brand marketing has been upended over the last few years.

Podcasts

Technology

How YouTube Shopping is upping its social commerce competition with TikTok

April 15, 2024  ■  5 min read

YouTube Shopping updates make it easier for creators to monetize old videos and showcase affiliate products.

amazon treasure chest

Amazon Briefing: Amazon is selling brands on programmatic podcast ads

April 11, 2024  ■  4 min read

In an update to its DSP made earlier this year, Amazon is now selling ad spots in podcast episodes. The offering was first tested in the U.K. last year, but has now been rolled out to the United States.

How QR codes help brands meet consumer expectations for sustainability

April 09, 2024  ■  4 min read

Katherine Ryan, vice president, brand marketing, Bitly From trending resale programs at top brands like Lululemon and REI that make sustainable shopping more accessible to scrutiny over Taylor Swift’s private jet carbon dioxide emissions, demand for sustainable shopping experiences and transparency is at an all-time high. Consumers have more access to information than ever, and […]

Marketing

How DTC jewelry brand Dorsey is growing profitably

April 15, 2024  ■  5 min read

Having struggled to raise venture capital, Dorsey’s founder made the decision to grow a DTC-only business sustainably.

How Tecovas approaches events, from music festivals to professional bull riding

April 12, 2024  ■  4 min read

Tecovas has focused more on sponsoring music festivals and sporting events in recent years. The goal is to reach new groups of shoppers as Western wear is having a moment.

The header image features Target's mascot dog, Bullseye, and the Circle logo.

Research Briefing: As Target launches Circle 360, here’s how it stacks up against other membership programs

April 11, 2024  ■  3 min read

In this edition of the weekly briefing, we examine Target’s recent announcement of its revamped membership program as seen in data from Modern Retail+ Research.

Operations

How Havenly is expanding from an online design service to a brick-and-mortar retailer after its acquisition spree

April 12, 2024  ■  5 min read

Though it started as an online-only design service, Havenly is starting to experiment with physical retail after obtaining storefronts through acquisitions.

Express Edit counter in SoHo

How Express went from being a top apparel retailer to on the brink of bankruptcy

April 12, 2024  ■  6 min read

Fashion retailer Express Inc. is reportedly considering various options, including Chapter 11 bankruptcy, as it faces increased competition in the fast-fashion space. But its struggles have been a long time in the making, retail analysts say.

How advertisers are leveraging Roundel’s best practices to maximize retail media spend

March 20, 2024  ■  4 min read

Renee Doerre, senior director of strategy and enablement, Roundel Creating impactful e-commerce strategies begins and ends with the consumer experience. From websites to apps to in-store experiences and third-party platforms, shoppers can connect with brands at many touchpoints. Consumers want a convenient and personalized shopping experience and advertisers must create lasting ways to capture and […]